Hillsboro police arrest Forest Grove sex offender

Hillsboro police have arrested a registered sex offender from Forest Grove for two incidents in the Hillsboro Public Library.

Douglas Wayne Sokell, 70, was lodged in the Washington County jail on charges of harassment, unlawfully being where children congregate, and unlawful contact with a child.

Sokell was was arrested at 10:00 p.m. on Oct. 17 at his residence on Willamina Avenue after an investigation into a November 2011 incident and an August 2012 incident at the library on Brookwood Avenue.

According to police, during the 2011 incident, Sokell entered the library and unlawfully touched a 9-year-old female victim. He fled the library that day before he could be identified and contacted by police.

During the 2012, Sokell entered the library, walked around the children's section and left the location without contacting anyone. This violated his status as a registered sex offender by unlawfully being where children congregate.

These cases were connected after a library employee recognized Sokell from a flyer created by Hillsboro police. Sokell was identified and located after a thorough investigation by Hillsboro police.